The Best Beauty Clinics in Norway

THE BEST BEAUTY CLINICS IN NORWAYSpecial  Theme:

Photo: Eivind Natvig

Team Beauty Medical with Sandra Michelle Romano.

Beauty Medical

Since opening in 2016, Beauty Medical has become one of the top beauty clinics in Norway, with a months-long waiting list and practitioners eager for the opportunity to spend just a couple of days working at their clinic in Oslo. This is an enormous achievement for founder Sandra Romano, a single working mother who only five years ago was paying her patients to be able to practise on them, and whose inimitable spirit lies at the heart of the clinic’s success.

By Lise Lærdal Bryn | Photos: Beauty Medical

The road to running one of the top beauty clinics in Norway hasn’t been easy for Sandra Romano. Starting with a difficult and unusual childhood, she became, at a very young age, a single mother only a year after giving premature birth to her son, who was born with a rare premature illness. It was her fight for the health of her son that led to her initial training to be a nurse – but working shifts with a sick son and student loans quickly led her to change tack, only months after finishing her education.

Sandra achieved remarkable success at a series of companies over the following few years, where she set multiple records in terms of both sales numbers and her speed in being promoted to leadership positions, as well as achieving feats like putting together a team of 435 people over four months, speaking to thousands of people at venues like The Globe in Stockholm, and working as head of sales at four different companies simultaneously, alongside work in product development.

This experience proved invaluable when she shifted her focus back to beauty, the passion of her youth. A natural-born entrepreneur, she started a massage studio with her best friend at seven and start-

ed working as a nail and lash technician aged only 14. As an adult, she used her nursing training to become an aesthetic nurse, taking over 40 additional courses. “When I started in 2015, I had to pay my first patients to practise,” she admits. Now she has a months-long waiting list, and has treated over 6,000 patients, including celebrities like Triana Iglesias and Sophie Elise.

“I think the reason people want to come to us is, firstly, the results we deliver. When you go on Instagram, you see natural results where you can’t see what’s been done, but simply that you look fresher,” says Sandra, adding that there’s an authentic glow that isn’t easily achieved. “We’re not just here to empty wallets and fill lips; we’re here make you feel like a diamond.”

Celina Romano, assistant manager and cousin to Sandra, adds: “Not only do we get good results, but we have a nearly perfect five-star average customer rating. In addition, we work exclusively with top-range products.”

This includes products such as Juvederm, which Celina jokingly refers to as “the Rolls Royce of fillers”. Their commitment to only using products of the highest quality has brought them the attention of top suppliers like Allergan Medical Institute, who they met with the day before our interview to share some of the secrets of their success as a clinic.

Left: Team Beauty Medical in thread lift uniform. Top right: Sandra Romano, lecturer and course leader at PBSerum Medical Advanced with a full auditorium. Bottom right: Founder and owner Sandra Romano.

Among the secrets is not just Sandra, but the whole Beauty Medical team, who enjoy a unique camaraderie. “We have a brilliant team,” Sandra gushes. “And the true success of a company is that everyone looks forward to coming to work.”

She boasts that they have had zero requests for sick days and that employees that have moved on often come back having raved about how much they miss working at Beauty Medical – and this reputation has also resulted in a large pile of job applications for Celina to work through. “We all originally became nurses to help people, and there are other ways of helping people too,” says Sandra, and this aspect of their work is central to their practice. “We do so much more than just big lips,” she emphasises.

Although beauty treatments such as lip fillers are what the industry is most famous for, and indeed it remains the practice’s most popular treatment, they also offer treatments for such problems as excessive sweating, correction of hyper-pigmentation, acne scarring, and more. “These are issues that we address every day that meaningfully improve people’s quality of life.”

Sometimes, this also means refusing clients: “We’ve become very good at spotting the people who are simply hurting and just need some love, and we address that right away: lift them up, shower them with lots of love, and tell them how great they are,” says Sandra.

The attention to quality and positive mindset are also key parts of the courses in aesthetic medicine that Beauty Medical runs. Sandra isn’t just dedicat-

ed to her own practice, but also to improving the standard of the entire industry, especially considering how difficult she found it to get her start. “Everyone was very arrogant, and no one took me seriously,” she says. “I knew I had to change things.”

Now, Sandra runs her own courses in collaboration with medical agencies PBSerum and MINT, which are attended by plastic surgeons, dermatologists, medical doctors, dentists and aesthetic nurses. She was also one of the first 30 people certified by NORFEM – the Norwegian Organisation for Quality Within Aesthetic Medicine – demonstrating her commitment to teaching aesthetic medicine at the highest level, and to safety in her treatments.

Beauty Medical’s medicine courses also focus on the business side of running a beauty clinic, and Sandra’s early success in that regard is evident here. “I love sales, but for many, sales are tricky, and that’s why they don’t succeed. But it’s all about mindset here, too, and when you think that instead of just selling a client a product, it’s about helping someone, then it doesn’t feel like a sale – and that’s when you clinch it,” Sandra reflects.

“I think a lot of people feel inspired by our courses thanks to the ‘you can do it’ spirit Sandra brings,” says Celina. “There are some people who have that extra gift that leads to achieving your dreams, and Sandra has that.”

Sandra now teaches all over Norway – and among Beauty Medical’s next steps is branching into Sweden. They are not particularly interested in opening new branches of the actual clinic, however. “We want to focus on quality and keeping our vibe, and we know that if we expand and bite off more than we can chew, that’s when we lose that,” Sandra explains.

Web: beautymedical.no Instagram/Facebook/TikTok: @beautymedicaloslo

Beauty Medical is very active on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok – another credit to their success. Morever, they have an online shop selling high-quality products from Zo Skin Health, Noon Aesthetics, Meline and PBSerum.

Derma Medica: The future of beauty and cosmetics

Norway-based clinic and shop Derma Medica is constantly challenging the status quo in the search of better, more innovative ways to help their customers. Even after almost seven years in the industry, the dedicated team is still set on always improving.

By Celina Tran | Photos: Derma Medica

After over 16 years of working in leadership in various health organisations, Edyta Hætta started to grow tired. As her 40th birthday approached, she realised that it was time to finally do something for herself, and she started the project that eventually became Derma Medica.

“Originally, I intended to use my education and experience in leadership and as a cosmetic nurse to help other clinics,” explains Hætta, owner of Derma Medica. “I soon realised that my passion was to work with and treat people; I couldn’t just give it up. That’s how Derma Medica went from just a shop to both a shop and a clinic. Today, we’re incredibly proud to have two clinics, one in Oslo and one in Sandvika, in addition to the shop.”

According to Hætta, the Norwegian skincare and cosmetics industry is a conservative one. As a result, the products used in most clinics aren’t always up to the same standard as those used internationally.

“I refuse to sell anything that’s bad for my customers. Take thread lifts, for example,” she says. “Thread lifts are an incredibly popular procedure here in Norway. I’ve personally worked with them before, but something about the procedure rubbed me up the wrong way. After some research and speaking to relevant academics in the international market, I quickly found out that they can have negative effects in the longer-run, including scar tissue. I also don’t believe that the price of thread lifts reflects the results.”

To ensure that her customers only receive the best care, and to encourage the Norwegian market to test new waters, Hætta and the Derma Medica team are introducing the country to new, different treatment alternatives. Her multilingualism and frequent business travels have provided access to a large international market with open doors and endless opportunities.

The future of beauty and cosmetics In their search to find new treatments for common cosmetic problems, Derma

Medica understands that different cosmetic procedures can be stressful and uncomfortable. As such, they also offer pain- and stress-free alternatives to guarantee their customers’ comfort.

“Laser can often be incredibly painful, and even though we offer that, we also offer less painful, yet medically approved cosmetic solutions like NeoCare, Bloomea, La Fontaine and carboxytherapy. These provide similar results to the more painful predecessor and do an incredible job at everything from skin tightening to fat removal.”

In addition to such alternatives, Derma Medica is among the first clinics to offer a range of procedures in Norway and the rest of Scandinavia. This includes the aforementioned procedures and products, as well as Dr. CYJ Hair Filler and mesotherapy, treating everything from scarring and acne to hair loss, pigmentation, cellulite and more.

One of Derma Medica’s goals is to make skincare accessible for everyone. That’s why they also offer a more wallet-friendly alternative, in addition to the Dermapen. “It’s important that our technology is environmentally friendly, customer friendly and accessible, which is why we always look to specialise in newer and better solutions.”

First and foremost a business that helps people “We’re not the loudest. We’re also certainly not the best at selling ourselves,” Hætta chuckles. “But first and foremost, we’re a business that helps people. Our team consists entirely of medical professionals, and we’re all very passionate about making people feel better. That’s why we’re always honest with our customers, and we will turn away potential customers if we feel that the procedure will do more harm than good.”

Though the beauty market can occasionally be reluctant about sharing, Hætta’s door is always open to other clinics and beauticians. The Derma Medica shop sells all its products and equipment to other fellow professionals and offers classes on how to use it all. “One of our goals is to use our shop to help more hospitals and clinics familiarise themselves with the endless opportunities and alternatives that are out there. We’re more than happy to share!”

Cosmetic procedures are often at the centre of controversial media storms, but that doesn’t worry Hætta. “We put our hearts and souls into helping people become the best versions of themselves, in the healthiest and most professional way possible. That’s why we do years of research and talk to professionals before even considering a product,” she explains.

“Our customers describe us as a humane and safe space, because while we’re professional, we’re happy and joke around with them a lot. we want the best for them, and as nurses, we have an ethical foundation as well as rules and legislation to abide by, and we can’t forget that.”

Web: www.dermamedica.no and dermamedica.shop Facebook: Derma Medica Instagram: @dermamedica

Haugesund Hudpleieklinikk: ’Our bodies recognise and embrace nature’

With 40 years in the industry under the belt, Eli Holme Lie has seen all there is to see in the field of skincare and cosmetics. She’s brought the very best of natural skincare and treatments to her own Norway-based clinic, Haugesund Hudpleieklinikk.

By Celina Tran | Photos: Haugesund Hudpleieklinikk

Haugesund Hudpleieklinikk was established in 1980 by Eli Holme Lie, and has not had a single quiet day since. From day one, the clinic’s goal has been focused on providing the best possible results and ensuring that the customers leave with a smile on their faces.

After being introduced to German Dr. Schrammek’s products, Lie quickly realised the products’ full ability and potential. In 2012, she, along with her colleague, Anna Karen Taule, became a distributor for Dr. Schrammek in Norway, as well as in Sweden. Today, they support and sell Dr. Schrammek’s products to almost 300 Norwegian and Swedish clinics.

“I have so many customers that are happy with the incredible results of the Dr. Schrammek products, especially the Green Peel®. Having seen the unique and incredible results, I knew I wanted to help other clinics discover this incredible product line as well,” explains Lie.

Natural care and treatment According to Lie, she began promoting Dr. Shrammek’s products because of their ability to produce noticeable results using all-natural ingredients. “Our bodies recognise and embrace nature and its endless source of treatments.”

The products have been nominated for several prizes within the skincare industry, including the Beauty Forum Readers’ Choice Award for the best problem-skin solver and the best special treatment. One of the all-natural award-winning treatments is the Green Peel® treatment, one of Lie’s favourites.

“We’ve found that it not only improves skin massively, but it also helps prevent and recover from hair loss,” she says. “All we need to do is massage the peel onto the scalp. It reduces enlarged pores, tightens the tissue, increases circulation and so much more. It also improves the quality of your hair.”

Some of the peel’s other strengths include providing nutrition, treating ageing skin, preventing inflammation and acne breakouts, as well as strengthening sensitive skin. The herbs penetrate and improve the skin quality and its external, natural flora from the inside. Being a fully natural product with the same pH as the skin, it also treats without stripping down the skin’s barriers.

“My clients only need four to six treatments a year. No more is needed for the peel to work its wonders,” Lie says. “More and more people are seeking natural treatments with instant as well as long-term effects, and the Green Peel® provides both. I really cannot stress how incredible this product is. Among my proudest achievements throughout my 40 years in the industry is having introduced this game-changer to Norway.”

Another of Lie’s favourite Dr. Schrammek products is Blemish Balm, a BB cream. As one of the first BB creams on the market, the Blemish Balm has been highly praised by people all over the world. “Many of the celebrities and clients I work with love the anti-ageing effect and the glow,” she says.

Putting her heart in the game A decade ago, Lie sadly lost her son, and she has since carried his words with her through both business and life generally. “He would tell me to live in the present, and he would always encourage me to do what I love most, but to always do it with love,” she smiles. “We’re only put on this planet for a quick visit – might as well make the most of it and follow our passions. My son is one of the reasons I feel so passionately about helping my customers be their best and most beautiful selves.”

Haugesund Hudpleieklinikk has always valued good results, honesty and humanity. The team puts their entire heart into the treatments and the work and describes the customers as not only clients, but friends. “I never had the intention for the business to grow into a branch of clinics, as I’m a very hands-on person. It’s a privilege to be able to work so closely with my clients,” Lie says. “I wouldn’t have the time to treat patients if I was managing several clinics, and I’m just not willing to give that up.”

Lie has not only helped the clinic’s customers, but often finds herself working at other events, too. Her experience with make-up and colour correction has allowed her to put make-up on the famous faces of Norwegian actors and actresses, most recently for a film festival. “I’ve been told that my advice on colours and features has changed people’s lives, and I’m just humbled and incredibly grateful that I get to do that for people.”

Web: haugesund-hudpleieklinikk.no Facebook: Haugesund Hudpleieklinikk Instagram: @haugesundhudpleieklinikk

Everyday luxury for everyone

In recent years, Scandinavians have embraced everyday luxury. Stavanger’s Fab Lounge MediSpa, offering a range of advanced beauty treatments, provides that luxury with something for everyone. Entering Fab Lounge, the first impression is of opulence and professionalism, and discretion and anonymity are at the heart of the business. From the welcoming receptionist to the highly qualified therapists and beauticians, visitors are in for a wow-factor experience.

By Sunniva Moen | Photos: Fab Lounge

Owner and CEO Mariann Edland is proud of what she has created: high quality guaranteed, and tailored to anyone. She has stayed true to her vision, and Fab Lounge exudes a warm and welcoming atmosphere. You’ll find no other clinic like it in Norway, perhaps not anywhere in Scandinavia, she maintains, and as a result, people travel from all over to visit Fab Lounge. With more than 300 different treatments on offer, this is a wellness universe, a place of positivity and optimism. “Customers leave feeling so much better than when they arrived,” says Edland, adding: “Parking is free for all customers!”

A wide range of treatments Many of Fab Lounge’s specialities are treatments within the medical and cosmetic fields. Injections, such as fillers and Botox, shape facial features and minimise wrinkles and lines, as well as being used to treat gummy smiles, unwanted perspiration, jaw tension and headaches. Permanent make-up, such as microblading, can enhance your natural brows or provide natural-looking brows where there are none. Permanent lip liner is a semipermanent type of tattoo that enhances your natural lip contour, while permanent eyeliner makes your lashes appear thicker and darker, providing a more alert appearance with minimal make-up.

Fab Lounge also offers laser treatments for hair removal and skin conditions such as rosacea, visible blood vessels and hyper-pigmentation. Peeling treatments,

including Medical Light Peel, Green Peel and Crystal Peel, promote skin rejuvenation and lessen lines, wrinkles, open pores and hyperpigmentation.

All Fab Lounge treatments are performed by certified nurses and therapists, all of whom are direct employees of the company. In addition to the medical and cosmetic field, Fab Lounge has professional stylists working with hair, make-up, lashes and nails, massage therapists and a wide range of other beauty and wellness treatments.

Fab Lounge uses and sells only exclusive products from renowned brands. Skincare products like Babor, Dr. Schrammek, Skin Better Science, Environ, Elixir and Ekseption, and hair care products from Oribe, Miriam Quevedo and Goldwell, are just a few of the many offered at the clinic.

A changing market The clinic is a member of NFVB (a member organisation for the Norwegian hair and wellness industry), ensuring compliance with quality control as well as health and safety. “NFVB is promoting healthy development in the beauty industry,” says Edland. “It is essential that Fab Lounge is a part of this community, which provides safety and security for both clients and employees.” The quality and luxury on offer have not gone unnoticed. Fab Lounge has quickly become Norway’s largest beauty clinic, and several of its treatments are fully booked weeks or even months in advance. Treatments that were previously inaccessible and unaffordable, and therefore reserved only for the few, have become mainstream and are regarded as an everyday luxury. Lash extensions, brow lamination, and hair and nail treatments have become very common and a normal part of many people’s beauty regime. Skincare, laser and cosmetic injections are rapidly growing too, as people become accustomed to the products and treatments on offer.

At Fab Lounge, you’ll be treated by fully qualified, professional medical staff who adhere to the highest medical standards.

“People have become better at self-care,” says Edland. “Little things like shaping and colouring lashes and brows, lash lifts, extensions and brow lamination have all become trendy treatments. Men are also increasingly taking more time to care for themselves, and regularly come in for treatments.”

She adds: “The Norwegian beauty market has been transformed since I started out, from initially being something enjoyed by the privileged few, to now being available and used by the masses.”

More than a feeling “At Fab Lounge, we believe that your hair and skin are part of what makes you the person you are,” says Edland. “That is why we pride ourselves on customising the latest trends in hair design and skincare to suit your image. We don’t think you should ever leave our salon feeling like a different person, but instead like an amplified version of you.” For over 13 years, Fab Lounge has been delivering sophisticated hairstyling and professional skin and body treatments to delight and rejuvenate its customers. Edland’s philosophy and values are founded on the firm belief that beautiful hair and toned skin make both a powerful statement and an empowered customer.

Everyone deserves to look their best, according to the Fab Lounge philosophy.

At Fab Lounge, every customer is special. “Everyone deserves to look their best,” says Mariann Edland.

Hair and skincare consultations are offered to professionally assess the most appropriate products for each individual client. Just as no two people have the same fingerprint, neither will any two customers have identical hair and skin requirements. It is this philosophy that drives the Fab Lounge operations and results in a customer experience that is so much more than just an appointment.

This focus on ensuring the best customer experience is reflected in Fab Lounge’s unique environment, which has been designed specifically for the hair and body care treatments being applied. Combining an elegant and refined ambience with innovative use of the latest techniques and beauty technologies ensures that each customer is provided with the ultimate care. Individual solutions include wellness and beauty days, beauty arrangements for couples, getback-into-shape treatments and hair and nail enhancements. Fab Lounge provides relaxation for the mind, the body and the soul.

“I’ve always lived for this profession,” concludes Edland, “I’ve always loved and respected it completely. Hair and skincare are often regarded as less important than, for example, music, architecture and art. However, at Fab Lounge, we value and appreciate the beauty of the person as highly as any other art form.”

Appointments can be booked online and over the phone.

Fab Lounge opening hours: Monday to Friday: 9am to 8pm Saturday: 9am to 5pm

Address: Langflåtveien 32, 4018 Stavanger

Phone: +47 51 88 44 50

Web: www.fablounge.no Facebook: fab.lounge Instagram: @fab.lounge

Leading aesthetic clinic with a luxurious touch

Skin Medispa opened their first clinic in Oslo in January 2021, and the second clinic in Asker in August. Now, after a full year in business, they are one of the top clinics in Oslo, and Skin Akademiet, their own skin academy, is already recognised as a national reference centre.

By Mari Koskinen | Photos: Skin Medispa

and a massage in a safe and relaxed atmosphere; combined with Champagne and full catering, naturally. Since the lockdown ended, it has become a favourite for bachelorette parties and friends getting ready for a night out.

“We aim for natural and long-lasting results,” says Pedro Lozada, medical director at Skin Medispa. “We combine high-quality treatments with a luxurious experience, where the clients feel safe and comfortable.”

Patient safety and the highest of medical standards are top priorities at Skin Medispa. “We use only researched techniques and premium products that have active ingredients and documented effects,” Lozada explains.

Lozada is also the medically responsible doctor for the laser distributor Skintech in Norway. Alongside Lozada, the clinic’s staff consists of eight highly qualified aesthetic nurses. The head nurse, Silje Halden, has extensive experience in aesthetic medicine and is also the instructor at their skin academy, which offers courses for doctors and nurses on treatments like micro-needling and mesotherapy, Botox, filler injections and Web: skinmedispa.no Facebook: Skin Medispa Instagram: @skin.medispa.oslo

laser treatment. The Oslo clinic has its exclusive premises on the Bygdøy allé, consisting of four treatment rooms.

During the pandemic, when everyone was under lockdown, Skin Medispa launched a signature service called ‘Desperate housewives’, which allows a group of friends to reserve the whole clinic for themselves and enjoy different treatments

Head nurse Silje Halden. Pedro Lozada.

A warming spa where you’d least expect it

When you think of the Norwegian town of Lillehammer, a relaxing spa might not be what first comes to mind…

By Eva-Kristin U. Pedersen | Photos: Lillehammer SPA

Nevertheless, tucked in between snowheavy pine trees and cosy wooden houses with sparkling fires, Lillehammer SPA offers visitors a wide variety of relaxing beauty treatments.

“We’ve been operating for 21 years and won several awards, including the prestigious International Spa and Beauty Award for the Best Day Spa and Wellness Centre in Norway 2021,” explains Claudia Desales, administrative director at Lillehammer SPA.

A signature, award-winning massage Deseales and her colleagues offer a great range of beauty treatments, including waxing and the innovative micro-needling skin treatment.“Micro-needling is a medical treatment that creates small channels in the skin to stimulate the production of collagen,” Desales explains. “It’s very effective. Results are visible immediately, and it can also be used to treat facial scarring, for example.”

The diamond in the crown of treatments at Lillehammer SPA is most definitely their signature Lillehammer massage, however. This award-winning treatment was developed inhouse by Deseales, and includes techniques from different massage traditions, including Thai and classic Swedish massage, as well as shiatsu and acupressure.

“The result is a full-body treatment that is very effective in treating different problems like body pain, headache and stress,” Deseales explains.

Duo treatments – a real treat for couples Deseales explains that while most of their clients are women, an increasing number of men also visit, either for specific treatments or together with their partner for a lush duo treatment.

Whoever you are, and whether you come alone or with a friend or partner, a stop at Lillehammer SPA to warm up, purify and really charge the batteries, has become a delightful must for all visitors to the winter wonderland that is Lillehammer.

Web: www.lillehammerspa.no Facebook: Lillehammer SPA Instagram: @lillehammer_spa

Hotel At Six offers a five-star experience. Wake up to a classic Stockholm skyline.

Hotel of the Month, Sweden Where will you be at six?

Open your eyes to a world of art and a vibrant city pulse. The choice is yours when staying at Hotel At Six. Its clever location on one of Stockholm’s oldest squares offers tranquillity wrapped in a five-star package, within stepping distance to shopping and business.

By John Sempill | Photos: Hotel At Six

Hotel At Six is more than a name. It is a meeting point. It’s where day meets night and chores are exchanged for after-work activities. And, as it happens, the Brutalist building rises from the Brunkebergstorg square, originally a plaza for the gentry at the end of the 19th century.

“It was an exclusive market place, where ladies handpicked a variety of goods and products,” says general manager Therese Mårtensson. “These are cues we’ve taken into account at Hotel At Six; it’s thoughtthrough and purposely handpicked. This includes materials and the day-to-day service.”

A living feel through art and music One of the first things you’ll notice when you step inside, apart from the custommade Hotel At Six scent, is the giant marble head at the foot of the staircase. This is a piece made by renowned Spanish artist and sculptor Jaume Plensa – a characteristic marker for the hotel.

Art is an important and integral part of the hotel. “It is created throughout by our curator Sune Nordgren,” Mårtensson continues. “The marble staircase then takes you up to floor two, where everything happens. There, you’ll find our restaurant and cocktail bar and our listening lounge.”

This area is “more playful” and a place for up-and-coming artists to display their work, as well as a place for musicians to set the tone for endless evenings. “We collaborate with local artists and rotate the art in the cocktail bar on a regular ba-

sis,” says Mårtensson. “We recently had a collaboration with Sonny McCartney, who had an exhibition here with his amazing photo art. Depending on the collaboration, we’ll change the display a few times a year. The concept helps us achieve a living feel brought together by, in this case, art and music.”

International influences The architecture firm behind Hotel At Six is Universal Design Studio. Their work includes the Ace Hotel and the Natural History Museum in London. “We wanted it to feel international, which they really managed to achieve here,” Mårtensson says. “And that comes across in our food concepts as well. We receive a lot of feedback on our international vibe from our guests.”

A perfect example is the wine bar, with different themes every month. Menus are put together with complementary, carefully selected wines. “At the moment we have a Portuguese theme, partly due to the fact that a lot of our staff are from Portugal. It’s a way for them to display their favourites, and put together wines with a great menu. It’s also a way for us to let our staff show off their expertise. It gives our hotel a genuine atmosphere – and it also makes it more fun for them to come to work.”

There are several reasons to stay here. Another unique feature is the rooftop bar – Stockholm Under Stjärnorna (‘Stockholm Under The Stars’). It offers amazing views over the city, a great bar, and top-class entertainment from local and international DJs and musicians. “Our guests never need to leave the building,” continues Mårtensson. “We have several restaurants under the same roof. And the area is right in the middle of town, but still slightly hidden. Hotel At Six is close to shopping, restaurants and culture. And perfect for our business guests, too.”

Thought-out, handpicked, and always in movement How does it feel to stay here? This is an important question, central for the staff at Hotel At Six. “What’s the first thing our guests actually touch? It’s the key card,” Mårtensson notes. “And how would it feel ‘to touch At Six’? That took a while for us to decide. This is an example of how everything is well thought-out and handpicked.” Although still secret, the hotel has several exciting collaborations lined up. “Construction projects, among others,” Mårtensson hints. “We never stand still; we are always in movement. And we always strive to think about what our guests might have missed. To be able to anticipate that – that’s something we push hard for.”

Web: www.hotelatsix.com Facebook: HotelAtSix Instagram: @hotelatsix

A bite to eat, together with carefully selected wine? Hotel At Six has several restaurants under one roof.

The wine bar Blanche & Hierta offers new themes every month. Have a drink mixed by Andrew at the cocktail bar.

Furniture & Light Fair inspiration.

Attraction of the Month, Sweden

The return of groundbreaking design for a better future

Stockholm Design Week and Stockholm Light & Furniture Fair are, finally, upon us again. After a mandated two-year break, the fair returns full steam to the city of Stockholm, where new and innovative Scandinavian design will provide an immersive showcase of what’s on the market now, and what we can expect from the future.

By Nina Bressler | Photo: Stockholm Design Events

Stockholmsmässan will become the home of Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair between 8 and 12 February, while the city centre will serve as playground to Stockholm Design Week and plentiful activities and exhibitions. Stockholm Design Events, the group behind the fair, has gone above and beyond to make the highly anticipated return count.

“We want to be the engine that pushes good design, what it can achieve for society and individuals, forward. This year, we are going all in to create a hub that will encompass both the fairgrounds and the city centre, to truly showcase the richness of Scandinavian design to an audience that is hungry for change,” says Chicie Lindgren, business area manager for Stockholm Design Events.

There will be 450 exhibitors at the fair, and city-based events and exhibitions will be easily found through the Stockholm Design Week app, exclusively designed for the occasion.

The power of BEing “The theme of this year is ‘BEing Scandinavian’; we are pushing our core values and strengths with a heavy emphasis on sustainable innovation and production. The theme will influence exhibitions at the fair and in the city, as well as our three-day forum, Stockholm Design & Architecture Talks. In addition to our digital panel talks, we have invited a number of great keynote speakers, such as the research-based design studio Formafantasma,” says Hanna Nova Beatrice, project area manager at Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair and Stockholm Design Week.

The exhibition will be filled to the brim with exhibitors that embody the best of Scandinavian design, excited to return to a space where meetings between audience and producers are once again enabled. Thought-provoking exhibitions curated by the most exciting names in the business are another key feature. Multidisciplinary artist and designer Martin Bergström has been appointed head curator of the main exhibition, which will explore what the typically Scandinavian, beyond stereotypical conventions, means.

The city centre is also geared up for an experience-packed week where design studios, galleries and showrooms are getting involved with a plethora of exciting pop-up events and exhibitions. Co-working space Alma, official Stockholm Design Week hub, will be hosting launches and talks throughout the week, and renowned auction house Stockholms Auktionsverk will house a design exhibition celebrating Swedish production.

The work by Åke Axelsson, an icon in Swedish design and interior architecture, will be exhibited at Sven Harrys art museum in collaboration with Stockholm Design Week. Curated by Hanna Nova Beatrice, the exhibition also invites a younger generation to a conversation with the artist himself about sustainable design and production.

Innovation propelling sustainability “Design has an integral role to play in how we can achieve a more sustaina-

Stockholm Furniture & Design Fair inspiration.

ble society that will help us overcome the challenges we are facing. Climate change is already upon us, and urgent action is the only option; what can architects, designers and producers do to help the progress forward?” asks Nova Beatrice. Conversations about the challenges as well as opportunities will be the resounding theme throughout the week, and a new fair layout will enable greater access to the activities that are on offer.

The Greenhouse initiative will be another prominent feature during the fair – a platform where new and unestablished designers are invited to showcase their work and ideas to established designers, business leaders and the public. Curiosity, innovation and sustainability are guiding the way to smart solutions that go hand in hand with beautiful, sleek and groundbreaking design. “Scandinavian design is boiling with new inventions and innovations that we believe will help change the world for the better. To showcase these talented designers in one physical place again, to provide this hub of new thoughts and ideas for the public, feels nothing short of amazing, and we will use every moment to create a positive impact on our future,” says Lindgren.

Let Scandinavian Design lend a helping hand for a better future, and take the opportunity to restart and recharge at Stockholm Design Week.

Web: www.stockholmfurniturelightfair.se www.stockholmdesignweek.se www.formex.se Instagram: @sthlmfurnfair @stockholmdesignweek / @formex.se

Stockholm Design Events Stockholm Design Events is a team that works with a variety of design events in Sweden, aiming to highlight and nurture the innovation of Swedish and Scandinavian Design. In addition to Stockholm Design Week and Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair, the team arranges Formex in January and August and Stockholm Design Week in August. The team is also behind the foundation Skapa, a prize created to promote innovation and new inventions through design.

Hanna Nova Beatrice. Sanna Gebeyehu and Chicie Lindgren.

Attraction of the Month, Finland Capture a photo of brown bears roaming free in the Finnish wilderness

Bear Centre in Finland makes it possible for humans to see and photograph brown bears, wolves, foxes and even wolverines, comfortably and up close, having enticed bear watchers to its premises since 1999.

By Ester Laiho | Photos: Bear Centre

Bear Centre is situated in Vartius, Kuhmo, a little over a mile from the Russian border, an hour and a half from the city of Kajaani, and a threehour drive from northern Finland’s biggest city, Oulu. Here, you have a 90 to 99 per cent chance of seeing brown bears, depending on the season. The next opportunity to set your eyes on the biggest predators found in Finland is in the spring. The bear season starts at the beginning of April with a white blanket of snow, continuing through the green summer, and ending with the vibrant colours of autumn in October.

The founder and CEO, Ari Sääski, explains the unique nature of Bear Centre: “Long gone are the days of admiring captive animals. Here at Bear Centre, you are a guest in their natural habitat. The joy of witnessing these great beasts is made better by the suspense and the serenity of the landscape.”

Sääski also believes that the pandemic has made people understand and appreciate nature better. “Here in Finland, we’ve always been quite in touch with nature, but I think this bond has been made even stronger over these past two years, with people finding Covid-19-friendly pastimes.”

Thrilling nature experience in the calm wilderness An act often imagined as unglamorous, Bear Centre provides an opportunity to experience the wilderness as comfortably as possible. The Luxury Cabins are equipped with night vision binoculars and a sound system picking up the sounds of the nature and amplifying them for you to hear inside the cabin. Another observation location is the Bear Watching House, providing uninterrupted views over the wetlands.

For those travelling to get that milliondollar shot, there are 29 hides scattered around the area. Your patience might be rewarded the moment you start waiting to see the animals, or you might need to give it a few more nights, making the eventual experience even more thrilling. The calm wilderness of the area is sure to be a nice change of scenery and a welcome break from the hectic city life many people lead. The smoke sauna on the premises is also a must after a day or night of hiking and photography.

A long weekend at Bear Centre could suit a solo traveller, providing the maximum nature experience, or a couple looking to try something new, or even a small group of friends competing for the best shot. Many people are happy to have visited Bear Centre once, but avid fans keep coming back. “There’s one couple that frequents the centre. They’ve visited 20 times now and say that every time is always different. Only once have they not managed to film a bear.”

A pandemic-proof nature reserve experience for visitors from all over the world The idea to build this type of nature sanctuary is a marvellous one, but is there a backstory to how Bear Centre came to be? Founder Sääski explains that bears were a prevalent part of his upbringing, with both his father and his grandfather having been hunters. Sääski wanted to share his fascination with bears with as many people as possible, and the idea of a bear watching centre was born. After 20 years of living elsewhere in Finland, he moved back to the scene of his childhood and bought an old border control centre. The entire area the centre is built on has been granted the status of nature reserve, so no hunting is allowed – only observing and photographing.

In more than 20 years in business, the centre has seen many visitors come and go. Most of the bear enthusiasts visit from Europe, but every year, more and more people come from around the world – from Australia, Asia, South-Africa and the United States. International travel allowing, Bear Centre is also Covid-19 safe. The photography hides can only be utilised by one group of people at a time, as can the cabins. Daily cleaning also ensures the safety of every hopeful bear watcher. The aim is for people to have a pleasant, stress-free and safe time at the centre.

Sääski is looking forward to the spring and seeing the bears visit the area again. “It’s been quite lonely here this winter. Some other animals have been around, but I do always look forward to seeing the first bears in the spring.”

Web: bearcentre.fi Facebook: BearCentreFinland Instagram: @bearcentrefin

The museum aspires to be a living culture house and various activities for locals and tourists are arranged throughout the year. The exhibitions highlight Greenlandic craftsmanship and design from the earliest to modern times.

Respectively displayed in a grave-like niche, the extremely well-preserved mummies from Qilaqitsoq are among the museum’s most famous and touching displays.

Museum of the Month, Greenland Up close with Greenland’s past

Visitors to Greenland National Museum and Archives will find a treasure trove of perfectly preserved objects and artefacts, giving a unique insight into the life and culture of the nation

By Tina Nielsen | Photos: Greenland National Museum and Archives 2021

Established in 1966, the Greenland National Museum was set up in an exercise of nation building. Greenland, a Danish colony from 1721 to 1979, has a singularly unique history to share with the world.

Today, Greenland National Museum and Archives is among the country’s largest cultural institutions, after it was combined with the national archives in 1991, receiving around 20,000 annual visitors in pre-pandemic times.

According to Christian Koch Madsen, deputy director of the museum, the central role of the institution is to oversee administration, research and dissemination of the country’s vast cultural heritage. “The start of Greenland National Museum was slightly different to that of other similar institutions,” he says. “A great deal of work was put in to return archaeological and ethnographic artefacts from Denmark to Greenland, a process known as the ‘Utimut’ (Greenlandic for ‘return’), which saw Denmark hand over close to some 35,000 objects from 1982.” It was a process that continued until 2001 and required a huge amount of detailed work of registering and safely bringing the artefacts home. Many of the objects handed over are now on display in the permanent exhibition, considered the spine of the museum. “One thing that makes an Arctic museum like ours truly rare and interesting is that the preservation of organic tools, artefacts and other remains is particularly good, allowing visitors to get really close to the people of the past,” says Koch Madsen.

The permanent collection, which documents all of Greenland’s history – from the earliest Paleo-Inuit people, the Vikings, to the early ancestors of the present-day Greenlandic Inuit – contains several pieces that make up what Koch Madsen calls the “Arctic crown jewels”.

Among the top attractions of the museum are three mummies from Qilaqitsoq in the north of Greenland. “They are naturally mummified, exceptionally well preserved and very moving. They are absolutely unique,” he says. Another important piece is a perfectly preserved ‘umiaq’, dating back to the 1400s, making it one of the most complete early examples of a type of skin boat used by the indigenous people of the Arctic.

Greenland National Museum and Archives is housed in buildings from colonial times in Nuuk, adding an authentic element to the collections – but the location presents some challenges. “We are in some of Nuuk’s oldest buildings and it is very special, but we don’t have the space for large temporary exhibitions,” says Koch Madsen.

In an attempt to work around the limitations, the museum organises digital projects, pop-up exhibitions and theatre performances. It’s all part of the central role of Greenland Museum and Archives, the deputy director concludes. “We aim to be more of a cultural centre than a static museum.”

Web: en.nka.gl

Restaurant of the Month, Sweden Gastronomic decadence at Coco & Carmen

Coco & Carmen is a classic in Stockholm. With a first-class menu and outstanding service in a cosy setting, it continues to refine the gastronomic experience.

By Malin Norman | Photos: Photos: Coco & Carmen

The team behind Punk Royale took over renowned restaurant Coco & Carmen in 2019. If you don’t already know, Punk Royale is a bit of a talking point in Stockholm and beyond, contrasting luxury with craziness. The concept is fine dining with extremely luxurious produce served in an unexpected, sometimes provocative way. At Coco & Carmen, the approach is slightly different.

“After successfully expanding the popular Punk Royale restaurants from Stockholm to Copenhagen, chef Joakim Almquist and his co-founder Erik Gustafsson wanted to make something a little less ‘punk’, a little more ‘royale’,” says Gunnar Wester, CEO of Punk Royale Group. “They wanted it to have a luxurious touch, but it shouldn’t feel stressful for guests. Instead, it’s relaxed, friendly and fun, with the same high level as fine dining.”

While Coco & Carmen was already offering lunches, catering and events, the new owners introduced dinners as the main business focus. It became a success with some standing ovations, and with the notorious journalist Viggo Cavling saying in a review: “If you’re only going out for dinner once in Stockholm this year, this is the place to go.” Unsurprisingly, bookings soared.

European kitchen flirting with Scandinavian culture Coco & Carmen has a set menu that is not disclosed ahead of time. “We never share what we’re going to offer; it’s a surprise for our guests, and everyone will be served the same,” says Katherine Bont, group head of guest experience. Even though there’s no official strategy for the menu, she reveals that the direction is gastronomic decadence, meaning that it’s perfectly ok to treat yourself to good food. “Coco & Carmen is a European kitchen flirting with Scandinavian culture and exclusive flavours from Japan,” explains Bont. Think oysters, lobster, truffles and caviar – Coco & Carmen even has its own caviar – with exciting flavours such as wasabi and lemongrass.

“We will continue to respect the heritage and familiar atmosphere of Coco & Carmen that our guests love,” Wester reassures, “while also adding our own touch and refining the offering with great finesse to achieve the highest possible standard.”

In their outlook for 2022, the team also promises that at least one additional country in Europe will be able to experience the unique Punk Royale approach to restaurant visits in their capital.

Web: www.cococarmen.se Instagram: @restaurangcococarmen

Restaurant of the Month, Denmark A fusion of food and fun

Since its opening in 2016, the social dining restaurant, Applaus, has continued to tempt the taste buds of the citizens of Aalborg. Situated in the northernmost part of Denmark, Aalborg is known for its reticence, but Applaus might have helped to change that image.

By Karen Gilmour Kristensen | Photos: Restaurant Applaus

The concept of Applaus is simple: the kitchen mixes different cuisines from all over the world in endless combinations. A key term here is social dining, meaning that some dishes are served individually, while others are served as sharing platters.

“We try to bring a homely ‘get-together’ vibe,” says owner and chef Mads Hyllested. “Since the beginning, creating a laid-back atmosphere in which everyone can feel welcome has been our priority.”

From Copenhagen to Aalborg Opening a restaurant in Aalborg after having worked at some of the finest restaurants in Copenhagen turned out to be tricky for Hyllested. “At first, I priced my wines at Copenhagen prices, which gave us a very limited sale of wine,” he recalls, wryly.

However, he and Aalborg quickly managed to become attuned to each other. Now, a continuous flow of customers dine at the restaurant. According to Hyllested, this has to do with the way he chose to set his pricing to suit the people in the city. Originally, the ten-course menu cost 395 DKK. Today, the restaurant serves 12 courses for 450 DKK.

The number of courses increases the range of fusion dishes and makes the customers feel they’re getting value for money. “Jutlanders really love to get a bargain,” Hyllested says. “As long as you get plenty for your money, it’s okay if one or two courses are not to your taste.”

Due to the contrasts between the two cities, the concept of social dining is run slightly differently in Aalborg. “In North Jutland, we have to move a little more slowly than in Copenhagen, where people are generally more receptive,” says Hyllested. “You can’t introduce too many new things at once; you have to take it one step at a time. Fortunately, we’ve found the right rhythm for doing this.”

One alteration is the serving of courses. Many of the social dining dishes are served as individual elements on a shared plate, meaning that you can move them onto your own plate – something that might be preferable when dining with a business partner.

Making the move from Copenhagen to Aalborg also became a personal accomplishment for Hyllested. “As I made my way to the top, I found that if I worked

hard, I could just about hang in there. But I realised it wouldn’t make me happy in the long run,” he explains. “After I stepped down a level or two, I discovered my forte in this sector and I thought, ‘perhaps I have found my niche’.”

Challenging the guests Applaus was the first eatery in Aalborg to introduce the concept of a ten-course menu. Since then, the restaurant has managed to influence the dining habits of its guests, encouraging them to try some different ingredients. For example, duck hearts and liver have been successfully added to the menu.

As the 12-course menu is put together by the kitchen, it’s a ‘blind serving’, as Hyllested calls it. “Our customers put their evening in our hands, and it’s our job to fulfil their expectations as much as possible. This allows us to steer our guests in various directions,” he adds. “There are guests who we have got to know better; we now know that we can push their limits a bit more.”

Taking a Copenhagen concept and moving it to Aalborg takes some nerve, and Hyllested admits that he expected to meet resistance to the idea of a blind serving. “I thought it would cause some dissatisfaction, but it didn’t,” he recalls. “People were really keen on this model.”

While staying true to their original concept, Applaus has continued to grow. “Several people – including some from Copenhagen who were present at our opening and then returned three or four years later – have told us that they noticed a remarkable improvement in our skill level,” Hyllested says.

What’s next? As for the future, Hyllested has a couple of ideas on the drawing board. Whether it will be more restaurants in Aalborg or possibly expanding the concept and starting up restaurants in other cities, time will tell. For now, the top priority is to maintain the status of Applaus.

“As long as I have guests on my chairs, as long as they provide positive feedback – then the restaurant is a success,” Hyllested concludes.

Web: restaurantapplaus.dk Facebook: Restaurant Applaus Instagram: @applausofficial_aalborg

100 per cent recycled plastic table by the design studio Norwegian Trash. Klorofyll Pot by Elementa and Anderssen & Voll. Photo: Emma Sukalic

Novooi founders Lillian Ayla Ersoy and Hanna von Bergen. Novooi’s first exhibition, organised in collaboration with Designers’ Saturday and Norske Mikrohus, drew 2,000 visitors.

Design Studio of the Month, Norway Novooi – where Norwegian design and craft take centre stage

Novooi was founded by creative director Lillian Ayla Ersoy and cultural entrepreneur Hanna von Bergen just four months ago. The online marketplace and agency for Norwegian design and craft – unique in the country – has already more than made its mark.

By Linda A. Thompson | Photos: Guro Sommer

Lillian Ayla Ersoy, a long-time creative director and designer, and Hanna von Bergen, a freelance cultural entrepreneur based in Norway, launched the country’s first online marketplace and umbrella brand for contemporary Norwegian design and craft in September.

“We both share this perspective that the world is a lot larger than Norway itself,” explains Ersoy, who has a NorwegianTurkish background but grew up in the US. “There is an incredible culture and society of artisans in Norway that we really want to share with the world.”

Novooi – the name itself a nod to the Art Nouveau movement – seeks to showcase contemporary artisans and give them a global reach through Novooi’s online marketplace and carefully curated exhibitions. The website currently features 44 sellers, with items ranging from funky, hand-thrown porcelain cups by the ceramist Johanne Birkeland and a terracotta planter system by the production house Elementa, to a table made from 100 per cent recycled ocean plastics by the design studio Norwegian Trash. Novooi.com has already drawn thousands of visitors from Norway, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the US.

Hyttekontor – work from nature, Novooi’s premiere exhibition, took place at Designers’ Saturday Oslo, a major local furniture and interior design event, drawing 2,000 visitors over the course of three days.

And more is to come. The pair hopes to stage three to four exhibitions next year and build an accompanying online collection with more than 1,000 products by 100 different artisans.

Novooi’s business model is built on collaboration and partnerships with makers, partners and, in the future, other countries. “Our approach is inspired by the UN Sustainable Development Goal 17, in addition to goals 12 and 9,” Ersoy explains.

With Novooi, Ersoy hopes they can help consumers and businesses understand how important it is to support artisans and buy sustainable design. “With the pandemic, we’ve seen how vulnerable artisans and smaller manufacturers are,” Ersoy explains. “I hope that we choose to buy high-quality, sustainable objects. We tend to throw away less and value more when we know the creators behind them.”

Web: www.novooi.com Facebook: novooi.official Instagram: @novooi.official

The house opens up when you enter and lets the weather and ocean in.

Architecture Profile of the Month, Denmark At the heart of MATTERS

With a focus on beautiful, sustainable and creative design in harmony with nature and context, MATTERS Architects continue to cement their place on the world stage, receiving national and international accolades. Each innovative project is carefully researched and curated, and allowed to take on a life and a language of its own.

By Trine Jensen-Martin | Photos: Helene Høyer Mikkelsen

MATTERS is the brainchild of co-founders and architects Marie-Louise Holst and Lotte Rønne. With a wealth of experience between them, and a shared passion for social sustainability and what they call “place-making”, they founded MATTERS in 2014. They have a distinctive approach to their work, which is firmly anchored in a respect for nature and for the essence of each individual project. The sense of a place “Our starting point is that no place has a prescribed language,” Marie-Louise Holst explains. “Each project must find its own identity. It is a game of both fitting in and being new.”

One of the biggest challenges for them is to combine what is already there with genuinely new ideas, and enhancing the quality of a space rather than completely erasing its soul to be replaced by the latest trend. “It is about finding the pieces of the puzzle and solving it in the most beautiful and usable way,” says Holst.

At MATTERS, they want to get a feel for the core of any project at hand, and for the sense of the place to find itself in the process. This is architecture and design where mindfulness is a part of the very fabric of the company, in human and contextual as well as design terms.

A winter bather’s paradise One example of art and beauty working together alongside functionality and con-

text is the winter bathing house, Isfuglen (‘The Ice bird’), in Brøndby Marine Harbour, overlooking the bay of Køge. It is both a club house for the winter bathing club Bifrost, and a place for visitors to enjoy views of the water from the large wooden deck area between the building and the waves. This project encompasses what is at the heart of MATTERS: imagination, identity, quality and playfulness.

“The building is an interpretation of iconic and recognisable shapes and materials found in the harbour,” Holst explains. “In this way, Isfuglen exists in cohesion with the older buildings in shape and colour, whilst reclaiming its own identity.”

The bathing house fits in with the historic harbour, the boats, and the people, showing a strong sense of commitment to both the community and the social context of the harbour itself. The use of colours, materials, and shapes in the making of Isfuglen is what makes it fit in with its context, but also what makes it unique; there is no place like this, a true marriage of old and new ideas.

Both the character of the bathing house and the process of its design and development are engaging; MATTERS has reinterpreted and reimagined the inherent beauty of the site and worked closely with nature to achieve what has become an effortless part of the environment in Brøndby Marine Harbour. You almost get the sense of the building moulding itself into the rocks, the sea and the souls of those lucky ones who get to jump into the icy waters there.

“We had to create something that would fit in but would still have its own identity,” Holst explains. The key for MATTERS was to add to the existing quality of the space, not take anything away from it, and to embrace what was already there. This place truly showcases how they put into creation their passion and respect for nature.

Nordic simplicity – with a twist! “We use honest materials, and let a space be the space it is,” Holst says when describing what northern simplicity means to her. “The twist is that we can still be daring and challenging and let each creation or project become its own,” she expands.

To MATTERS, architecture is not simply about functionality, spaces or places. Art is important, beauty is important, the social aspect and context are important. MATTERS were recently honoured as finalists at this year’s World Architecture Festival, for their project Valhøj School in Copenhagen and Isfuglen, as well as winning third prize at the 2021 Thessaloniki Design Week, for The Future School Project, which competed in Open Call in the Large Scale Projects category. And with imagination in the driving seat, they will continue to reshape and reimagine the projects they work on, allowing each place to find its own way of communicating with its users.

Pristine view towards the entry point of the marina.

Web: www.mttrs.dk Facebook: Matters Instagram: @matters_architects

Winter bathing. View towards the sunset bench (left), window looking into the community space (right). View from the sauna that frames the entry point to the marina.

Artist of the Month, Norway Marit Solum Smaaskjær: Capturing magic with pen and paper

Norway’s forests tell an enchanting tale as old as time, and Norwegian artist Marit Solum Smaaskjær captures the mystery on large canvases. With nearly 30 exhibitions under her belt, she provides viewers with an exclusively Norwegian nostalgia and a sense of magic.

By Celina Tran | Photos: Marit Solum Smaaskjær

For 20 years, Marit Solum Smaaskjær worked in the advertising industry. Despite enjoying her work, she felt that her creativity always served others, rather than her own growing need for expression. The big leap of faith of becoming a full-time artist has allowed her creativity to serve both herself and others.

“In the loud hustle and bustle that is everyday life, humans have a need to see and experience something beautiful, something our souls crave. I need to express myself and create just that,” she reflects. Whenever she’s not in a bright studio filled with black-and-white canvases portraying the woods, she finds herself surrounded by the large, majestic trees of her nearby forests. They’re her main source of inspiration.

“I go to the forest pretty much every day,” she says. “It’s a great place to find peace or to gather your thoughts, especially when you need to escape city life.”

The fairytale forest – an endless source of inspiration Norway is known for its beautiful scenery and endless fjords, but what of the woods? The citizens of the northern country take great pleasure in spending time outdoors, and from a very early age, most Norwegians find themselves hiking alongside classmates and friends. The beauty is undeniable, but there’s a mystery that lurks between the branches.

“The forest and trees inspire me. Perhaps it’s the light that catches my attention,” Marit reveals. “Or maybe it’s something that seems broken? Either way, there is something magical and mysterious about our ‘fairytale forests’.”

Traditional Norwegian fairytales and folklore are filled with numerous mystical creatures, from the looming trolls to the enchanting Huldra (a very seductive forest being). Most of them live in the woods – but whether or not they’re the reason for the magical, fresh feeling of hiking through the woods might depend on who you ask. The sense of magic the trees provide, however, is an almost universal Norwegian experience, and is perhaps the reason why citizens keep returning to the woods.

Through her art, Marit wishes to capture and share the magical feeling of the old fairytale forest and its expressions, which she says can be “reflected in humans and our moods”. She even goes on to explain that many people often see magical creatures in her art. “I haven’t put them there on purpose,” she chuckles. “But then again, ever since I was young, I’ve also seen shapes of trolls and other creatures in the branches, stubs and rocks in the forests.”

Placing magic on a canvas “When I come home from the forest, I work towards putting my memories onto the canvas,” she says. “The forest’s endless variations and sizes can be both predictable and chaotic; thus I have to process, sketch and get to know it before I can truly capture the feeling in art form.”

Countless sketches, trials and errors take place before her layers of unique black-and-white trees can come to life. In addition, the bright studio is a very different space from the woods, so when working on a project, Marit often finds herself going back to the original spot in the forest where she found inspiration. That way, she can recreate the same magical feeling.

Though her love for the fairytale forest and its magic is endless, she doesn’t limit herself from widening her artistic horizon in the future. “When you specialise and focus on one thing, the initial intuition and playfulness can dim. Sometimes, doing something new can bring it back. I quite enjoy making portraits, too, but for now, the forest is my main area of specialisation.”

Sharing her art In addition to being an artist, Marit teaches at Nydalen Art School in Oslo. She describes art and its different forms as a “never-ending learning curve” – one she intends to continue journeying on.

“My students motivate me to continue my own educational path. As I don’t have the traditional, formal, artistic education, I keep pushing myself to always learn more about art and how to create it,” she says.

Marit is convinced that art can be learned in the very same way as an instrument or any other activity, and she encourages everyone to pick up a pencil or paintbrush. “Anyone can learn how to draw – all you have to do is practise!”

Web: www.maritsolum.no Facebook: Marit Solum Instagram: @marit_solum_smaaskjaer

Photo: Christine Fossum Solum